Brockton and Cardinal Spellman renew baseball rivalry

The two teams will square off at Campanelli Stadium on Friday, marking just the second time they've played each other in over a decade.

BROCKTON – It is a rivalry renewed as the baseball teams from Cardinal Spellman and Brockton High School square off in a cross-town match up this week.

Earlier this spring, the two teams played each other for the first time in over a decade.

The Cardinals were defeated by Brockton 9-6 on their home field in that game, but now Spellman is looking for revenge when the two teams take each other on for the second time this season at Campanelli Stadium on Friday.

The series was born from an off-season conversation between Andy Crossley, a spokesman for the Brockton Rox, Spellman Coach Ray Bresnahan and Brockton Coach Bill Maloney.

“We said ‘let’s make this happen,’ and let’s also do a big fireworks show so that we can honor the city schools and give these kids the thrill of playing in front of a big Friday night crowd, just like the Rox have for years,” Crossley said in a statement.

Mayor Bill Carpenter will be serving as the P.A. announcer for the game. Carpenter has plenty of experience in the booth, serving as the voice on Brockton High School football for years with Bob Buckley, his chief of staff.

“It is great that these two premier baseball programs are settling the bragging rights of Brockton on the field,” said Carpenter in a statement. ‘The success that these teams have on the field and in the classroom shows Brockton at its finest.”

Rox staff will be on hand to collect donations that will be split between the athletic departments at the two schools.

Admission to the game is free and there is no reserved seating. The gates will open at 5:30 p.m., the first pitch will be thrown out at 6:30 p.m.